Aerosol valve assembly



Jan. 19, 1965 H. c. KAPPEL 3,166,250

AEROSOL VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed March 29. 1961 United States Patent 3,166,250 AERGSOL VALVE ASSEMBLY Henry C. Kappel, Elmhurst, 11L, assignor to Uni-Vaive, Incorporated, 'Meirose Park, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 9,262 4 Claims. (Cl. 239--337) This invention relates to a new type of valve assembly particularly adaptable for use with aerosol spray devices.

Aerosol spray devices have gained considerable acceptance as a means of dispensing a variety of compositions. Devices of this type are normally filled with a composition to be dispensed, together with a propellant, for example nitrogen or a liquified gas such as Freon. When the valve associated with the device is opened, the propellant forces the composition from a nozzle in the form of a spray or mist. Various valve designs have been developed for use with such dispensers, however, many of these valves are relatively intricate or complex in design, thereby presenting disadvantages in both manufacture and assembly.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved valve for use with aerosol spray devices offering distinct advantages in manufacturing and assembly.

Another object is to provide a new valve of the foregoing type which may be manufactured competitively with commercially available valves.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following specification and associated drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a partial elevation of an assembled aerosol spray device illustrating the relationship of the container, valve assembly and dispensing nozzle comprising the principal components of an aerosol spray device.

FIGURE 2 is an enlargement of the view of FIGURE 1, partly in cross section.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective, partly in cross section, illustrating a portion of the valve assembly shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view transversely through the valve stem showing a modification of the valve assembly.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective, partly in cross section, illustrating another modification of the valve assembly.

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the numeral designates a container adapted to hold a composition to be dispensed as a fine spray or mist from a nozzle 11. The container is normally charged with the desired composition plus a propellant which, as indicated, may be a liquified gas such as Freon or an inert gas under pressure, for example, nitrogen. Disposed in the mouth of the container is the valve assembly 12 adapted to control discharge of the composition from the container 10.

The valve assembly includes an upwardly opening cylindrical valve housing 14 provided with a downwardly extending tubular stem 15 permitting communication between said housing and the container 10 by means of an attached eduction tube, not shown. The rim of the housing 14 is also provided with a laterally extending flange 16. Housing 14 is adapted to be inserted into the mouth or opening of container 10 with its flange 15 extending over an enlarged rim or lip 17 of the container 10. Normally a gasket 18 is disposed between flange 16 and rim 17 to insure a fluid tight seal.

Across the top of the housing 14 is disposed a gasket 19 supported on the flange 16, through which extends a valve stem, as further described hereinafter. In order to maintain the valve assembly in position within the mouth of the container, a retainer 20 is provided, extend- 3,166,250 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 ing over gasket 19 and being deformed down and under the enlarged rim 17 of the container.

Disposed Within the valve housing 14 is a valve, designated generally by the numeral, 21, having a horizontal base 22 and a vertically extending tubular valve stem 23, which may be formed integrally with nozzle 11, as shown. Formed integrally with the base 22 is an upstanding cylindrical flange 24 and a downwardly extending cylindrical flange 25, both defining cavities with the base. Within the cavity enclosed by the flange 25 and beneath the horizontal base is disposed a spring 26, which serves to normally urge the valve 21 upwardly in a closed position. In the closed position the upper edge of flange 24 is pressed tightly against the underside of gasket 19 forming a seal and preventing egress of the composition from the container.

Within the cavity defined by flange 24 there is provided a valve stem retainer 28 projecting upwardly from base 22. A plurality of horizontal projections 29 are spaced around the bottom of the retainer, which are integral with both the retainer and base 22. Retainer 28 is also provided with a plurality of vertical recesses 30 in its periphcry, which are located intermediate of the projections 29 and extend from the top surface of base 22 to substantially the full height of the retainer.

The dimensions of valve stem 23 and retainer 28 are such that the lower end of the stern may be installed and held on the retainer by a press fit. Projections 29 prevent the stem from being forced completely down on the retainer 28 to the top surface of the base 22 and, hence, hold the bottom of the stem slightly above the top of base 22. I

As illustrated by the arrows in FIGURE 3, when the valve 21 is in its open position, the composition is permitted to move from the container into chamber 27 and then under the lower edge of the stem 23, whereupon it is then forced upwardly into the bore of stem 23 through the passages created by the recesses 30 and may be discharged from the nozzle 11.

In lieu of using projections 29 to prevent the lower end of valve stem 23 from contacting base 22 and, hence, establish a communicating passage, the lower end of stem 23 may be provided with a plurality of spaced legs or supports disposed around the lower periphery of the stem serving the same purpose and function as projections 29.

A valve assembly design of the above described type offers numerous advantages both from an operational standpoint and a manufacturing and an assembly standpoint. For example,'the valve 21, comprising cylindrical flanges 24 and 25, retainer 28 and projections 29, may be molded as an integral unit and readily installed in the valve housing 14. Further, the valve stem 23 may be rapidly assembled to the valve merely by pressing the stem down over retainer 28. Thus, all of the components of the valve assembly may be easily assembled and the complete assembly installed in the container.

While the foregoing structure is to be preferred, several modifications may be made within the basic design. One modification is illustrated in FIGURE 4 wherein the numeral 24 again designates an upwardly extending cylin drical flange attached to base 22 of a valve 21. A retainer 32 is provided for valve stem 23, having its associated horizontal projections 33 to prevent the stem, when installed, from being forced down in contact with the top surface of base 22. In lieu of recesses in the periphery of the retainer 32, a plurality of spaced vertically extending projections 34 are provided, disposed around the periphery of the retainer. These projections hold the stem away from the main body of the retainer 32, thereby providing passageways 35 for establishing communication between the valve housing chamber and the bore of stem 23.

' her and the bore of the stem 41.

A further modification is shown in FIGURE 5, wherein the valve 21 includes a valve stem retainer 40 and associated projections 29. Atttached to the retainer is a tubular valve stem 41.. In this modification, the stem 41 is provided with a plurality of recesses 42 disposed in the internal surface ofthe stem defining the bore. Recesses 42 provide communication between the valve housing cham- In general, the recesses 42 will extend longitudinally of the stem. In some in stances, to obtain a swirling action and hence a mixing of the components of a particular composition, the recesses 42 may be disposed helically, as illustrated. The bottom or lower end of each recess 42 should be located so as to be within the open areas between projections 29 to permit communication beneath the lower edge of stem 41 and recesses 42.

In the drawings the nozzle 11 and stem 23 have been shown as comprising a single integral unit. However, as a further modification, the stem may be made independent of the nozzle and the two joined, as by a press fit, to form a completed assembly. An example of a nozzle comprising a separate component and joined to a stem by a press fit may be found in the patent to Beard 2,932,432.

I claim:

1. In an aerosol valve assembly:

a reciprocable valve having a cup-shaped portion provided with a base anda continuous flange;

a retainer extending upwardly from said base and provided with a plurality of projections adjacent the base,

a discharge nozzle having a tubular stemprovided with an imperforate side wall andbeing spaced inwardly from the flange, said stem receiving the retainer and bearing against the projections, there being passages between the stem and the retainer for the flow of fluids from said spaces into the lowerend of the stem and thence to the nozzle via said passages when the valve is opened by movement of the flange away from the seat. a

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said retainer is provided with a plurality of vertical recesses in the periphery thereof, said recesses being disposed intermediate adjacent projections and extending from the base to the upper end of the retainer to define said passages.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said retainer is provided with a plurality of spaced, vertically extending projections on the outer surface thereof, said projections being disposed to space the stem from said retainer and thereby define said passages.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein said stem is provided with a plurality of recesses on the inner surface thereof, the lower ends of said recesses being in fluid communication with said corresponding spaces therebelow, said recesses extending to locations above said retainer whereby the recesses define said passages.

References Cited in the file ofrthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,096,585 Yost et al May 12, 1914 2,612,293 Michel Sept. 30, 1952 2,900,114 Utz Aug. 28, 1959 2,913,154 Kufier Nov. 17, 1959 3,045,877 Green Jan. 24, 1962 3,098,589 Graham July 23, 1963 

1. IN AN AEROSOL VALVE ASSEMBLY: A RECIPROCABLE VALVE HAVING A CUP-SHAPED PORTION PORVIDED WITH A BASE AND A CONTINUOUS FLANGE; A RETAINER EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE AND PORVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF PROJECTIONS ADJACENT THE BASE, PRESENTING SPACES BETWEEN THE PROJECTIONS; A VALVE SEAT; MEANS YIELDABLE HOLDING THE VALVE CLOSED WITH THE FLANGE ENGAGING THE SEAT; AND A DISCHARGE NOZZLE HAVING A TUBULAR STEM PROVIDED WITH AN IMPERFORATE SIDE WALL AND BEING SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE FLANGE, SAID STEM RECEIVING THE RETAINER AND BEARING AGAINST THE PROJECTIONS, THERE BEING PASSAGES BETWEEN THE STEM AND THE RETAINER FOR THE FLOW OF FLUIDS FROM SAID SPACES INTO THE LOWER END OF THE STEM AND THESCE TO THE NOZZLE VIA SAID PASSAGES WHEN THE VALVE IS OPENED BY MOVEMENT OF THE FLANGE AWAY FROM THE SEAT. 